Transportation officials ban 'anti-racist is a code word for anti-white' banner from freeway bridge - but not because of its controversial message

A racist banner has been banned from a freeway bridge in Eugene, Oregon - but officials say it's not because of it's message.

The sign reads 'Anti-Racist is a code word for anti-white' and it has been seen on a bridge over Interstate 5 at least three times in the past week.

The slogan has been used in the past by white-supremacists and white nationalists. The Community Alliance of Lane County considers the statement hate speech.

Banner banned: A banner reading 'Anti-racist is a code word for anti-white' has been banned by transportation officials in Eugene, Oregon after showing up three times in the past week

Regional NAACP president Eric Richardson found out about the sign when one of his kids showed him a picture of it on Facebook and he is not OK with the message.

'If it was speaking against anything, it was speaking against multiculturalism and I think multiculturalism is a strength of our country, Richardson toldKPTV.

He elaborated on his issues with the statement in an interview with KVAL.

Negative message: The regional president of the NAACP, Eric Richardson, said the banner was speaking against multiculturalism

Hazard: A transportation spokesman said the banner was banned not because of it's content, but because it was distracting to drivers on Interstate 5

'I understand that there could be a positive view on that is people are trying to assert their personhood and their identity which is a positive thing but we don't have to be anti anything to do that,' he said. 'I teach my kids that we're all one people and I really respect other people's cultures and identities, and so I consider that being anti-racial.'

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The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has now banned the sign but not because of it's message. They say it's distracting to drivers.

'From out standpoint, safety trumps free speech when it comes to safety of interstate travelers,' Frank Little, spokesman for ODOT, said. 'Occasionally during the political season when political parties and their participants are very, sometimes we'll see people who want to present their political signs. We don't allow that either.'